The Chairmanship of the Council of Ministers, which is held for a period of one year, rotates between the five Nordic countries. Decisions made in the Council of Ministers are unanimous. See the information about the Presidency and the rotating Chairmanship.

The Nordic Council was formed in 1952 and is the forum for Nordic parliamentary co-operation. The Council has 87 elected members, representing the five countries and three autonomous territories.

The members of the Council are members of the national parliaments, who are nominated by their respective political party. There is thus no procedure for direct election to the Nordic Council.

The Council is unique in that parliamentarians and members of the governments meet for political discussions at the annual Sessions.

The Nordic Council, which is led by a Presidium, has held an ordinary Session every autumn since 1996. Special sessions on specific themes are organized in between.

On-going political work in the Nordic Council is conducted through committees and party groups.

The Nordic Council is managed by a Secretariat which shares its premises with Secretariat of the Nordic Council of Ministers in Copenhagen. Moreover, the Nordic Council has national secretariats in the Nordic parliaments, attached to the delegations of the respective countries.

The Nordic Council and the Nordic Council of Ministers share personnel, finance and service departments. Information activities are managed by a joint information department.